and window-curtains, and plenty of earthenware utensils, truer tests of national civilisation than libraries and picture-galleries. But, to a certain extent, we are disposed to share in his distrust of the genuineness of that progress in art which depends on Government encouragement. The taste which is reared and stimulated in the artificial air of palaces, instead of attaining a healthy and vigorous development, often yields little fruit except empty mannerisms. And, if the labours of the painter and the sculptor be apt to take a questionable direction under courtly tutelage, there is still more room to doubt whether any important progress in manufactures, or the mechanical arts, can be prompted by princely patronage, however well designed. We have already had proof in England of what enterprise and ingenuity can accomplish without such aid--it remains to be seen what advancement they are to make in the leading-strings of court favour, and under the inspiration of puffs in the _Times_ newspaper, and promises of medals, with suitable inscriptions, and the bustling exertions of a semi-official staff of attachés. Notwithstanding his heretical notions about the value of the fine arts, in a national point of view, Mr Laing's pictures of Continental life and scenery, and his criticisms on foreign manners and customs, will be found full of information and instruction, even by those who have resided for years in the countries he describes. WHO ROLLED THE POWDER IN? A LAY OF THE GUNPOWDER PLOT. ["Upon this the conversation dropped, and soon afterwards Tresham departed. When he found himself alone, he suffered his rage to find vent in words. 'Perdition seize them!' he cried: 'I shall now lose two thousand pounds, in addition to what I have already advanced; and, as Mounteagle will not have the disclosure made till the beginning of November, there is no way of avoiding payment. They would not fall into the snare I laid to throw the blame of the discovery, when it takes place, upon their own indiscretion. But I must devise some other plan.'"--AINSWORTH'S _Life and Times of Guy Fawkes_.] They've done their task, and every cask Is piled within the cell: They've heaped the wood in order good, And hid the powder well. And Guido Fawkes, who seldom talks, Remarked with cheerful glee-- "The moon is bright--they'll fly by night! Now, sirs, let's turn the key."